Water distributing tube

ABSTRACT

A tube for agricultural uses in distributing water to plants located along the length of the tube can be constructed utilizing a continuous tube of a thermoplastic, preferably biodegradable polymer. Such a tube includes a plurality of outlet openings located along its length and means securing the interior walls of the tube together adjacent each of the outlet openings so as to restrict the flow of water to each of the outlets. Such a tube may be conveniently shipped in a flat, coiled configuration. Preferably the walls of the tube are thin enough to be broken up by normal agricultural instruments such as plows.

United States Patent Zeman [111 3,774,850 1 Nov. 27, 1973 WATERDISTRIBUTING TUBE Inventor: David G. Zeman, 10030 Greenleaf Ave., PO.Box 3021, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. 90607 Filed: July 10, 1972 Appl. No.:270,456

[52] US. Cl 239/542, 239/547, 239/553.5 [51] Int. Cl B05b 15/00 [58]Field of Search 239/542, 547, 553.5, 239/D1G. 19; 47/27 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,566,833 9/1951 Healy 239/547 X 3,080,1243/1963 Rathman... 2,807,505 9/1957 Weitzel 239/542 UX 3,698,195 10/1972Chapin 239/542 X 3,667,685 6/1972 Rinkewich 239/542 PrimaryExaminerRichard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Gene A. ChurchAttorney-Edward D. OBrian [57] ABSTRACT A tube for agricultural uses indistributing water to plants located along the length of the tube can beconstructed utilizing a continuous tube of a thermoplastic, preferablybiodegradable polymer. Such a tube includes a plurality of outletopenings located along its length and means securing the interior wallsof the tube together adjacent each of the outlet openings so as torestrict the flow of water to each of the outlets.

' Such a tube may be conveniently shipped in a flat,

coiled configuration. Preferably the walls of the tube are thin enoughto be broken up by normal agricultural instruments such as-plows.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures mmrmnnm m5 3; 774,850

SHFU NF 2 Era. 3.

WATER DISTRIBUTING TUBE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION dures of thesegeneral types are utilitarian. It is frequently considered however thatthey are undesirable for any one of severa different reasons.Conventional procedures of this type tend to be somewhat wasteful ofwater in that some of the water used with them is lost without promotingplant growth. Also these procedures are considered somewhatdisadvantageous from an economical standpoint for other reasons.

As a result of the realization of these factors a number of efforts havebeen made at developing so-called drippers or soakers for use in"watering plants. Such structures have normally utilized water impervioustubes used to convey water to various structures or means located onsuch tubes for distributing the water to plants. Such structures ormeans have varied widely in character.

. Many of such structures or means have been of a valve-like character.Frequently they have been constructed in such a manner so as to includeopenings capable of being enlarged upon a sudden increase of pressure soas to release sediment tending to cause these openings to becomeclogged. Some of these structures have involved the use of porousmembers-including thread-designed to slowly release water from theinterior of a tube. Other of these structures have involved the use ofcarefully formed holes in tubes designed to release only limited amountsof liquidCertain of these structures have involved the useof severalflow passages in a single tube connected by such holes.

Although so-called drippers or soakers" asindicated in the preceding areunquestionably utilitarian to at least a degree, it is not consideredthat any one of these structures is completely satisfactory forcommercial utilization with rows of agricultural crops. The reasons forthis are varied, but are primarily economical in character.

To be acceptable a water distribution tube or system must performsatisfactorily to water plants withoutany significant or undue water ofwater. Also to be acceptable, such a tube or system must be relativelyinexpensive so as to facilitate its widespread adoption and utilization.It is also considered that a water distribution tube or system must notpresent any significant disposal or recovery problem to any agriculturalgrower if such a tube or system is to be commercially accepted on alarge scale. It is not considered that any of the prior soakers ordrippers adequately meet these criteria for widespread commercialacceptability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide new and improved distributing tubes for agricultural use. Morespecifically, the invention is intended to provide water distributingtubes which overcome various'limitations and disadvantages of priordrippers and soakers as briefly indicated in the preceding discussion.Further objectives of the present invention are to provide waterdistributing tubes which may be easily and conveniently manufactured ata comparatively nominal costs, which can be easily and economicallyhandled and shipped, which may be simply and inexpensively located inoperative locations, which are capable of giving satisfactoryperformance when installed and which normally do not present anysignificant disposal or removal problems.

These and various related objectives of the invention as will beapparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of thisspecification and the accompanying drawing are achieved by forming atube for use in distributing water along the length of the tube, saidtube having a plurality of outlets located along its length and beingformed of an impervious material, so that the tube includes theimprovement comprising means securing the walls of said tube togetheradjacent each one of said outlets so as to restrict the flow of water toeach of said outlets. Such means operate to restrict the flow of waterby creating one or more passages which are smaller than the interior ofthe tube adjacent to such means so that the interior of the tubeadjacent 'such means serves as a principle flow area within the tube.

In accordance with this invention the means securing the walls of thetube can be of different shapes so as to define a labyrinth typecombination of passages, a tortuous series of paths or a single passage.Preferably a tube as used is sufficiently thin so that it can be readilybroken up by normal agricultural implements such as are used to till thesoil, such as plows, discs and the like. Also preferably the'tube usedis of a biodegradable, organic polymer composition which will decomposeat the end of a growing season of a particular type of plant with whichthe tube is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectionalview of the em bodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1corresponding-to a view taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the tubeillustrated in FIG. 1 as it would appear during use. FIG. 3 is anisometric view of a repetitive unit or length of a first modified tubein accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a repetitive unit or length of a secondmodified tube in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a repetitive unit or length of a thirdmodified tube in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a repetitive unit or length of a fourthmodified tube in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a repetitive unit or length of a fifthmodified tube in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a section or length of a sixth modifiedtube in accordance with this invention.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended to DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT All of .the tubes illustrated in the drawingmay be formed out of a flexible, impervious polymer material such as aconventional polyethylene composition or the like. No useful purpose isseen in encumbering this specification with a long detailed analysis ofvan'ous polymers and polymer compositions which can be utilized inconstructing these tubes inasmuch as such polymers and compositions arewell-known to the plant irrigation or watering field. It is preferredthat any such polymer or compositions used be of an impervious characterso that any watering achieved with the tube described will occur atopenings as hereinafter described.

Although tubes as indicated can be manufactured from a wide variety ofpolymer compositions it is preferred to manufacture these tubes of abio-degradable, flexible, impervious polymer or polymer composition. Onesuch composition is disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 3,590,528 entitled,Decomposable Polybutene-l Agricultural Mulch Film issued to Thomas H.Shepard July 6, 1971. It is considered that many other biodegradablepolymers and compositions are known and are currently being developed inresponse to an increasing public demand in polymers which do not presentany significant disposability problem.

It is preferred to form the tubes indicated in the drawing out of suchmaterials so that these tubes do not have to be recovered from a fieldafter a growing season. It will be realized that the term growing seasonused here designates a variable period, the length of which variesprimarily in accordance with the length of time it takes to produce acrop from a specific type of plant. This period of time will normally bein the duration of roughly three months. However, some agriculturalcrops are considered to take time periods up to several years to mature.The precise time involved with any specific crop will be somewhatvariable in accordance with a number of factors such as ambientrainfall, ambient temperature and the like.

Because of this it is preferred that the tubes in accordance with thisinvention be of a polymer composition which will not bio-degrade or willnot significantly biodegrade until after the end of a drowing seasonduring which they have been used. Thus, these tubes will remainimpervious during such a time interval. A precise polymer or polymercomposition which will biodegrade at a desired time interval will in allcases have to be selected on the basis of the recognized biodegrationtime of the polymer or composition so that this time at least exceedsthe growing season of a plant with which a tube is to be used. Thisinformation can be readily determined with reference to the technicalliterature as to the bio-degration periods of polymers and polymercompositions and the growing periods of various different plants.

It is also preferred that the tubes illustrated in thedrawing be formedso that they are sufficiently thin as to be capable of being broken upeasily at the end of the growing season utilizing conventionalagricultural equipment such as is utilized to plow under grown plants oras to otherwise till or cultivate the soil. This feature of making thesetubes so that they can be easily broken up in this manner is consideredimportant in alleviating the necessity for recovery operations.

When a tube as herein described is cut or broken into small segmentsusing agricultural implements, even if such a tube is not formed of abio-degradable material it will normally not present any significantsoil problem. Such broken-up strips of polymer material can be easilyremoved from a field by rakes or similar equipment in many cases. When atube as herein described is formed out of a bio-degradable material thebreaking up and plowing under of the tube is considered to facilitatebio-degration of the tube at the end of a growing season.

The thicknesses of the tubes illustrated therefore are preferablycorrelated with the nature of the specific agricultural implements to beutilized in breaking up and plowing under these tubes. The cutting orbreaking abilities of various different agricultural implements such asmay be used for this purpose vary widely. Therefore, a tube of onespecific thickness may be capable of being broken up or cut into smallpieces by one type of an implement such as a conventional disc and maybe capable of being broken up by another type of an implement such as acultivator.

These factors and the fact that different polymers and compositionsuseable in tubes in accordance with this invention differ somewhat instrength characteristics make it substantially impossible to givemeaningful ranges of the wall thicknesses of tubes preferred inaccordance with this invention. This matter is further complicated bythe fact that the thickness of the material in the tube as illustratedshould be varied in accordance with the pressure of water to be utilizedwithin the tube.

In general the material to be used should be just sufficiently thick towithstand the internal water pressure to be applied to it withoutrupture, but should not be any thicker than is indicated by thisconsideration. The reasons for this are economical. The lower thequantity of material in a tube in accordance with this invention, the

lower the cost of the tube. One significant aspect or feature of theinvention is the fact that tubes herein described are so inexpensive tomanufacture and use that they can be conveniently adopted in place ofexistent watering equipment and can be discarded at the end of a growingseason.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing there is shown a part of a length of atube 10 in accordance with this invention. This tube 10 is formed as aseamless body having two walls 12 which cooperate together so as todefine an internal flow channel or conduit 14. These walls 12 areinternally joined together at periodic intervals along lines 16 in sucha manner that the tube 10 in a collapsed condition will lay flat forconvenience of handling, coiling and uncoiling and the like. These lines16 are arranged in a spiral manner so as to define at least one flowpassage 18 leading from the interior of the flow channel or conduit 14to a centrally located hole 20.

The use of this tube is essentially very simple. Prior to use it is laidalong a row of agricultural plants in a line so that the repetitiveholes are located adjacent to various locations where water is to bedispensed. An end of the tube 10 is then connected in a conventionalmanner to an appropriate water source so as to inflate the flow channel14 along the length of the tube 10. The water in this flow channel 14will pass out through the passages 18 at a restricted rate dependentupon the dimensions of these passages 18.

If these passages 18 are of sufficiently small diameter to be of acapillary or nearly capillary type, the amount of water dispensed inthis manner will be less than if the water flows through the passages 18in accordance with normal flow considerations. In effect, the passages18 are intended to provide resistance to flow from within the flowpassage 14 so that there is a pressure drop between the interior of theflow passage 14 and the openings 20 which will dispense controlledamounts of water in accordance with the applied water pressure and thedimensions within the tube 10.

The amounts of water dispensed in this manner can be varied by changingdimensions withinthe tube 10, can be varied to a degree by varying thewater pressure applied within the flow channel 14 or can be varied by auser of the tube 10 varying the lengths of the passages 18 by punchingout the portions of the tube 10 around the openings 20 so as to decreasethe length of these passages 18. An instrument corresponding to a.common paper punch or leather punch may be used for this purpose. Thisability to regulate or control the amount of water dispensed from anyspecific opening 20 so as to increase this amount can be important to anagricultural grower if, for example, such a grower should determine thatmore'water should be dispensed from a particular opening 20 than isbeing dispensed from such an opening. I

The tube 10 also includes extensions 22 extending from the juncture ofthe walls 12. These extensions 22 are in the nature of flaps and aredesigned to be utilized when the tube 10 is employed in such a mannerthat agricultural plants grow upwardly through the openings 20 in a tube10. These extensions22 extend outwardly from the tube 10 in such amanner as to cover the ground adjacent to the tube 10 in order toinhibit the growth of weeds or the like when the tube 10 is used in thismanner. These extensions 22 may be of any convenient dimension for anyparticular application. It is to be understood, however, that the tube10 can be utilized without these extensions 22 both alongside a raw ofplants and in such a manner that plants grow through the openings 20.

In FIG. 3 of the drawing there is shown a modified tube 30 of thepresent invention which is essentially very similar to the tube 10 inthat it also utilizes walls 32 corresponding to the walls 12 describeddefining an internal flow channel 34 utilized to supply water to any ofa series of openings 36 located along the length of this tube 30. In thetube 30 the walls 34 are secured together around each of the openings 36at a series of points 38 so as to define a multiplicity of tortuous flowpaths (not numbered) leading from the flow channel 34 to each opening36.

Such flow paths have the same effect as the passages 18 in restrictingthe flow of water. In addition, however, they have the added advantageof permitting the flow of water through the openings 36 in the eventthat any particular path between or around the points 38 should becomeclogged from the growth of algae, the accumulation of sediment or thelike. If desired, the tube 30 may also include extensions 40corresponding to the extensions 22. 1

In FIG. '4 of the drawing there is shown a further modified tube 50 inaccordance with this invention which has walls 52 defining an internalflow channel 54. If desired, these walls 52 may be provided withextensions 56 corresponding to the extensions 22. These walls 52 areperiodically secured together by groups of lines 58, each of whichgroups defines a labyrinth type of flow passage 60 leading from theinterior of the flow channel 54 to openings 62. These flow passages 60operate in essentially the same manner as the flow passage 18. Inaddition, however, because of their configuration they have a pluralityof dead end areas 64 which to at least a degree tend to trap and holdsediment as water flows through flow passages 60 in such a manner so asto minimize clogging within these flow passages 60.

It will be realized from the aforegoing that the tubes 30 and 50 may beutilized in substantially the same manners as to the tube 10. On someoccasions it may be desirable to utilize tubes corresponding to thesetubes 10, 30 and 50 in such a way that water is not delivered from theircenters. In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 there are shown modified tubes 10', 30 and50' which are intended for use in such side delivery or dispensing ofwater.

vThese tubes 10, 30' and 50' are so similar to the tubes 10, 30 and 50,respectively, that they are not described in detail herein. Variousparts of these tubes, which are the same or substantially the same ascorresponding parts of the previously described tubes are designated inthe specification and in the drawing by the primes of the numeralspreviously used to designate such parts. None of these parts arespecifically described as separate elements herein.

From an examination of the drawing it will be noted that the tubes 10',30 and 50' all have their dispensing openings 20', 36' and 62 locatedalong their side edges. These openings may conveniently be enlarged asindicated in the preceding with a punch, a pair of scissors or the liketo adjust the flows through them as indicated. Although it is notnormally considered desirable, it is possible to utilize extensionscorresponding to the extensions 22, 40' and 56' with the tubes 10', 30and 50.

FIG. 8 of the drawing shows a tube in accordance with the presentinvention formed as a seamless body having two walls 72 which are joinedtogether along areas 74 extending parallel to the side edges of thesewalls 72 so as to define flow channels or conduits 76 adjacent to theedges of the walls 72 and an internal parallel distribution channel orconduit 78 spaced midway between the flow channels or conduits 76. Theseareas 74 are formed utilizing lines 80 corresponding to the lines 16previously described located parallel to one another so as to lead fromeach of the flow channels 76 to the distribution channel or conduit 78.

These lines 80 are spaced so that the areas between them and between thewalls 72 will serve as the previously described flow passage 18 so as toconvey a limited amount of water from the flow channels 76 to thedistribution channel 78. The action here is the same as that previouslyindicated in connection with the discussion of the flow passage 18. Inthe tube 70 the distribution channel 78 is provided with a series ofsmall perforations 82 which will dispense the liquid supplied throughthe distribution channel 78 to the exterior of the tube 70.

This tube 70 is used in nearly the same manner as the previouslydescribed tubes by spreading it out over an agricultural area andconnecting it to an appropriate water source in a conventional manner sothat water is supplied to each of the flow channels 76. Such water willmove through the areas 74 to the distribution channel 78 and will slowlyseep through the small holes 82' in this distribution channel 78. It isconsidered that the tube 70 is particularly significant in that watercan be supplied from either or both of the flow channels 76.

Thus, if one of the areas 74 leading from one of the channels 76 shouldfor one reason or another become clogged, water can still enter thedistribution channel 78 from the other of these flow channels 76.Further, the amount of water dispensed can, to a degree, be regulated byutilizing either one or both of these flow channels 76. To a degree, atype of a back flushing action may be achieved with the tube 70 byapplying water to the distribution channel 78 when no water is appliedto the flow channels 76. Such a back flushing action will, of course,involve the dispensing of water, but at the same time it will involvethe reverse flow of water through the areas 74 to a degree sufficient totend to at least partially clean out any blockages in these areas 74.

It will be obvious that this tube 70 may be modified in many ways. Itmay include side extensions such as the previously described extensions72. Further, the lines 80 may be replaced with a series of points orregions corresponding to the previously described points 38. They mayalso be replaced with lines corresponding to the lines 58 definingadjacent labyrinth-type flow passages.

On occasion, the minor restrictions presented in a single tube aroundthe openings 20 by the associated lines 18, around the openings 36 bythe points 38 and around the openings 62 by the lines 58 may beobjectionable to a particular grower. In these cases the entire centerregions of two walls of a tube as described can be formed in the mannerindicated in FIG. 8 so that two edge flow channels are connected by asingle region containing means securing two walls together such as anyof the means herein indicated and the openings for water dispensing canbe located along the central area of such regions. This type ofstructure may be advantageous in tending to prevent any restrictionagainst flow along the complete length of the tube.

All of the tubes described in this specification can be convenientlymanufactured by continuously extruding thermoplastic polymers andcompositions as indicated as continuous cross-sections or profiles andthen fiattening them so that the walls of these tubes may beautomatically and repetitively secured together as indicated by knowntechniques such as heat sealing or welding. When so formed, thesevarious tubes may be easily coiled up in a lay-flat condition forhandling, storage and shipping. A user will have no difficulty incutting such a length of tube to a desired length in a particular field.Normally a conventional water connection will be made to one end of alength of a tube in a particular field and the other end of such alength will be closed off in a conventional manner such as through theuse of a clamp.

I claim:

1. A tube for use in distributing water along the length of the tube,said tube having a plurality of outlets located along its length, saidtube being formed of an impervious material, in which the improvementcomprises:

means securing walls of said tube together within the interior of saidtube adjacent to each of said outlets so as to restrict the flow ofwater to each of said outlets from the interior of said tube, theinterior of said tube being open past said means.

2. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said means are lines joining interior walls within said tube together soas to define at least one flow passage leading from the interior of saidtube to each of said outlets, said flow passages of each of said meansbeing sufficiently small so as to provide resistance to flow from withinthe interior of said tube to each of said outlets.

3. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said means are a series of points joining interior walls within saidtube together so as to define a multiplicity of tortuous flow pathsleading from the interior of said tube to each of said outlets, saidflow paths of each of said means being sufficiently small so as toprovide resistance to water flow from within the interior of said tubeto each of said outlets.

4. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said means are groups of lines joining interior walls within said tubetogether adjacent to each of said openings so as to define a labyrinthtype of flow passage leading from the interior of said tube to each ofsaid outlets, said flow passages of said means being sufficiently smallso as to provide resistance to flow from within the interior of saidtube to each of said outlets.

5. A tube as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said flow passages have dead end areas which tend to trap andhold-sediment as water flows through said flow passages so as tominimize clogging within these flow passages.

6. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said tube is formed of a biodegradable composition and is capable ofbeing broken up by an agricul? tural implement.

7. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said outlets are outlet openings located centrally of said tube.

8. A tube as claimed in claim 1 including:

extensions extending from said tube capable of being utilized to coverareas to both sides of said tube around said outlets so as to inhibitplant growth under said extensions.

9. A tube as claimed in claim 1 including:

extensions extending from remote sides of said tube capable of beingutilized to cover areas around said outlets so as to inhibit plantgrowth under said extensions,

and wherein,

said tube and said extensions are integrally fonned of a biodegradablecomposition capable of being broken up by an agricultural implement,

said outlets are outlet openings through which plants are capable ofgrowing during the use of said tube, and

said means are lines joining interior walls within said tube together soas to define at least one flow passage leading from the interior of saidtube to each of said outlets, said flow passages of each of said meansbeing sufficiently small so as to provide resistance to flow from withinthe interior of said tube to each of said outlets.

10. A tube as claimed in claim 1 including:

extensions extending from remote sides of said tube capable of beingutilized to cover areas around said outlets so as to inhibit plantgrowth under said extensions,

and wherein,

said tube and said extensions are integrally formed of a biodegradablecomposition capable of being broken up by an agricultural implement,

said outlets are outlet openings through which plants are capable ofgrowing during the use of said tube, and

said means are a series of points joining interior walls within saidtube together so as to define a multiplicity of tortuous flow pathsleading from the interior of said tube to each of said outlets, saidflow paths of each of said means being sufficiently small so as toprovide resistance to water flow from within the interior of said tubeto each of said outlets.

11. A tube as claimed in claim 1 including:

extensions extending from remote sides of said tube capable of beingutilized to cover areas around said outlets so as to inhibit plantgrowth under said extensions,

and wherein,

said tube and said extensions are integrally formed of a biodegradablecomposition capable of being broken up by an agricultural implement,

said outlets are outlet openings through which plants are capable ofgrowing during the use of said tube, and

said means are groups of lines joining interior walls within said tubetogether adjacent to each of said openings so as to define a labyrinthtype of flow passage leading from the interior of said tube to each ofsaid outlets, said flow passages of said means being sufficiently smallso as to provide resistance to flow from within the interior of saidtube to each of said outlets.

12. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said means securing walls of said tube together are located so as todefine flow channels of a uniform cross-sectional configuration locatedparallel to one another along the edges of said walls, and

said outlets are located midway between said flow channels so as to bespaced from both of said flow channels by said means.

13. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said tube is integrally formed of a biodegradable composition capable ofbeing broken up by an agricultural implement,

said means securing said walls together are located so as to define flowchannels of a uniform crosssectional configuration located parallel toone another along the edges of said walls and so as to define adistribution channel located midway between said flow channels, and

said outlets are openings within said distribution channel.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,774,850 natedw Inventor(s) David G; Zeman It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line l6, correct spell ing of word "several I Column 1 line 52,after undue the word "water" should read "waste- Column 3, line 57,"drawing" should read --growing--. Column 4, line 32, "Capable" shouldread --incapable--.

Column 5, line 52, "raw" should read --row--.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of April 197R.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLETGHER ,J R. G. I'IARSHALL DAMN Attesting OfficerCommissioner .of Patents

1. A tube for use in distributing water along the length of the tube,said tube having a plurality of outlets located along its length, saidtube being formed of an impervious material, in which the improvementcomprises: means securing walls of said tube together within theinterior of said tube adjacent to each of said outlets so as to restrictthe flow of water to each of said outlets from the interior of saidtube, the interior of said tube being open past said means.
 2. A tube asclaimed in claim 1 wherein: said means are lines joining interior wallswithin said tube together so as to define at least one flow passageleading from the interior of said tube to each of said outlets, saidflow passages of each of said means being sufficiently small so as toprovide resistance to flow from within the interior of said tube to eachof said outlets.
 3. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said means area series of points joining interior walls within said tube together soas to define a multiplicity of tortuous flow paths leading from theinterior of said tube to each of said outlets, said flow paths of eachof said means being sufficiently small so as to provide resistance towater flow from within the interior of said tube to each of saidoutlets.
 4. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said means are groupsof lines joining interior walls within said tube together adjacent toeach of said openings so as to define a labyrinth type of flow passageleading from the interior of said tube to each of said outlets, saidflow passages of said means being sufficiently small so as to provideresistance to flow from within the interior of said tube to each of saidoutlets.
 5. A tube as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said flow passageshave ''''dead end'''' areas which tend to trap and hold sediment aswater flows through said flow passages so as to minimize clogging withinthese flow passages.
 6. A tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said tubeis formed of a biodegradable composition and is capable of being brokenup by an agricultural implement.
 7. A tube as claimed in claim 1wherein: said outlets are outlet openings located centrally of saidtube.
 8. A tube as claimed in claim 1 including: extensions extendingfrom said tube capable of being utilized to cover areas to both sides ofsaid tube around said outlets so as to inhibit plant growth under saidextensions.
 9. A tube as claimed in claim 1 including: extensionsextending from remote sides of said tube capable of being utilized tocover areas around said outlets so as to inhibit plant growth under saidextensions, and wherein, said tube and said eXtensions are integrallyformed of a biodegradable composition capable of being broken up by anagricultural implement, said outlets are outlet openings through whichplants are capable of growing during the use of said tube, and saidmeans are lines joining interior walls within said tube together so asto define at least one flow passage leading from the interior of saidtube to each of said outlets, said flow passages of each of said meansbeing sufficiently small so as to provide resistance to flow from withinthe interior of said tube to each of said outlets.
 10. A tube as claimedin claim 1 including: extensions extending from remote sides of saidtube capable of being utilized to cover areas around said outlets so asto inhibit plant growth under said extensions, and wherein, said tubeand said extensions are integrally formed of a biodegradable compositioncapable of being broken up by an agricultural implement, said outletsare outlet openings through which plants are capable of growing duringthe use of said tube, and said means are a series of points joininginterior walls within said tube together so as to define a multiplicityof tortuous flow paths leading from the interior of said tube to each ofsaid outlets, said flow paths of each of said means being sufficientlysmall so as to provide resistance to water flow from within the interiorof said tube to each of said outlets.
 11. A tube as claimed in claim 1including: extensions extending from remote sides of said tube capableof being utilized to cover areas around said outlets so as to inhibitplant growth under said extensions, and wherein, said tube and saidextensions are integrally formed of a biodegradable composition capableof being broken up by an agricultural implement, said outlets are outletopenings through which plants are capable of growing during the use ofsaid tube, and said means are groups of lines joining interior wallswithin said tube together adjacent to each of said openings so as todefine a labyrinth type of flow passage leading from the interior ofsaid tube to each of said outlets, said flow passages of said meansbeing sufficiently small so as to provide resistance to flow from withinthe interior of said tube to each of said outlets.
 12. A tube as claimedin claim 1 wherein: said means securing walls of said tube together arelocated so as to define flow channels of a uniform cross-sectionalconfiguration located parallel to one another along the edges of saidwalls, and said outlets are located midway between said flow channels soas to be spaced from both of said flow channels by said means.
 13. Atube as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said tube is integrally formed of abiodegradable composition capable of being broken up by an agriculturalimplement, said means securing said walls together are located so as todefine flow channels of a uniform cross-sectional configuration locatedparallel to one another along the edges of said walls and so as todefine a distribution channel located midway between said flow channels,and said outlets are openings within said distribution channel.